OBJECTIVETo study the effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) against lactacystin induced PC12 cell injury.

METHODSThe inoculated rat PC12 cells were cultured for 24 h, followed by intervention. The cells were divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control group, 10 micromol/L lactacystin injury group, and the EGCG pretreated groups (at the final concentration of 5, 10, and 50 micromol/L, respectively). The cytoactive was detected by MTT colorimetry. Morphological changes of the cell nucleus were observed by Hoechst 33,258 staining, and the apoptosis ratio was detected by flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSEGCG at different doses showed protective effect on lactacystin-induced PC12 cell injury. Compared with the lactacystin injury group [(61.22 +/- 1.02)%], the cytoactive in EGCG pretreated groups at the final concentration of 5, 10, and 50 micromol/L, respectively increased obviously to (66.99 +/- 1.30)%, (66.67 +/- 0.65)%, and (73.4 +/- 0.67)%, respectively. Hoechst 33 258 staining found that more nuclear pyknosis and aggregation occurred in the lactacystin injury group, but less occurred in EGCG pretreated groups. FCM indicated that the apoptosis ratio was reduced by EGCG pretreatment. It was 3.0%, 60.4%, 59.8%, 57.5%, and 38.6%, respectively in the normal control group, the lactacystin injury group, and EGCG pretreated groups (at the final concentration of 5, 10, and 50 micromol/L, respectively).

CONCLUSIONEGCG could attenuate lactacystin induced PC 12 cell injury.